Van Horn gets Nussdorfer honor


Van Horn


Phyllis Van Horn of New Philadelphia decided families whose loved ones have Lou Gehrig’s Disease needed a support system, so almost four years ago she established the ALS Family Support Group.

Her hard work in raising awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis plus her other volunteer activities helped her win the first Lucille Nussdorfer Woman of the Year Award sponsored by the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum. She received the honor at an awards dinner in the K. of C. Hall at Dennison Thursday night to kick off the American Soldiers Homecoming Tribute.

Nussdorfer established the World War II serviceman’s canteen that served more than 1.3 million with refreshments on stops at Dennison, known to the military visitors as “Dreamsville.” The award is designed to recognize women who have made a big impact on the quality of lives in the area.

Van Horn was nominated for the award by Linda Harig of New Cumberland, whose nomination stated “I feel that her dedication to the mission of the ALS Family Support Group of Ohio and her determination to help others is very significant and will have a lasting impact on Tuscarawas County.”

The non-profit ALS Family Support Group, which meets the third Thursday of every month, has its own Web site, www.alsfamilysupportgroup.com and offers information and support.

After Van Horn’s twin brother, and then a sister, became afflicted with ALS and she discovered there no support groups or information available locally. Both of her siblings died, but Van Horn, one of 14 children, understood the meaning of family support, she said, and the idea evolved for an ALS support group for people with Lou Gehrig’s and other neuromuscular disorders, their families and caregivers.

“Because raising public awareness of ALS is part of our mission, I speak at civic organizations and places such as the Senior Center and Claymont Community Center,” Van Horn stated. “I participate in every event and fundraiser we hold ... I have worked with a group in setting up an ALS Family Support Group in Coshocton County.”

She also is secretary of the board of Mainstreet New Philadelphia and volunteers six hours a week in the office, has been a two-year member of a Relay for Life team and also volunteers at the Reeves Home & Museum in Dover. She has helped research the home of Cathie Hiltbrand in Dover, which received a Heritage Home Assn. plaque and was featured on HGTV’s “If Walls Could Talk.”

Dominion East Ohio served as the lead corporate sponsor for the event.

Van Horn’s award was sponsored by The Times-Reporter.

The other semi-finalists and their award sponsors were Sharon Kohler of Dennison, First National Bank of Dennison; Barbara Scott of Newcomerstown, the Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau; Martha Campbell of Uhrichsville, Prestige Creative Marketing; and the late Lulu Benedetto of Dennison, Bloom’s Printing
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